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New Latin-Inspired Menu at Epcot’s Refreshment Port

Long gone are the McDo’s fries; in their place is a snappy new menu with Latin favorites at Epcot’s Refreshment Port. Thanks to Amanda Tinney of DisneyEveryDay.com for this guest post!

Epcot Refreshment Port

Adios McDonald’s. Bienvenidos Latin Flair!

Chicken Nuggets and French Fries have been replaced with Empanadas and Tostones at the Refreshment Port in Epcot’s World Showcase. Cast members working there confirmed that the change took place right before the 2009 Holidays. The menu board reveals [Read more…]

Sneak Peek at a Dinner in the Great Movie Ride

By AJ 20 Comments

After seeing last week’s post about the Tables in Wonderland dinner at Disney World’s Great Movie Ride, @janettwokay shared with me some photos from her recent Disney Fairy Tale Weddings vow renewal celebration held in the same venue! Here’s a great way to get a good idea of what dining inside the ride might be like!

This is also a good way for those of you contemplating using the GMR as a venue for your private celebrations to see what could await you…

Gangster Scene: Appetizers
Guests began the evening in the Gangster Scene, where cocktails were served and appetizers were passed. Tables were set up simply: black and red linens and rope adorning the chairs. In the background, you can see a pianist tickling the ivories — he played throughout the cocktail service.

Tables in the Gangster Set

A bartender was set up over to the side. There’s a great photo of a still set up behind him! Even the service was themed: beer cans were served in paper bags, wine was served in coffee mugs, and mixed drinks were served in mason jars.

Bartender in Gangster Scene

The cocktail hour included various appetizers, including: [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: January 10, 2010

By AJ 2 Comments

Before I launch into the round-up, here are a few quick reminders about some big food news reported this week:

It’s official that the 2010 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will take place from October 2-November 14, 2010.
Disney World has announced new Tables in Wonderland dinners, including one that’s being held inside the Great Movie Ride!

Now, off we go to the round-up! Plenty of good Disney food writing this week, including some great news items:

StitchKingdom reports that the Cantina de San Angel refurbishment is underway.

WDWMagic has a photo gallery of the Cantina refurb walls, and also has photos of pizzeria construction in Italy.

WDWNewsToday shares photos of the Crystal Palace refurb and a dry Splash Mountain at Disney World!

Imaginerding has the second of two posts in its Restaurantosaurus Book Update.

Vintage Disneyland Tickets shares photos and info about a 1967 LP titled New Year’s Eve at Disneyland, presented by Pepsi-Cola.

MagicCityMayhem posted a twitpic of the new Give A Day. Get A Disney Day. souvenir popcorn buckets at Disney World. You can find Magic City Mayhem here.

The Disney Blog has new about the eggs at House of Blues Restaurants, including Downtown Disney Orlando.

Everything WDW considers the merits of the Disney Dining Plan.

Main St. Gazette visits WDW’s Cinderella’s Royal Table.

A Walt Disney World Career celebrates dining at 50% of WDW’s table service restaurants. I shall have to go add up my own experiences and see if I’m even close!

Orlando Sentinel’s Daily Disney shares the recipe for Tony’s Town Square’s Tomato Dip with Goat Cheese.

Finally, here’s one I missed a while back (sorry!). Magical Kingdoms Disney Blog shares a review of Free Dining in Disneyland Resort Paris.

Thanks for sharing all of your news, thoughts, and insights about Disney food! Have a great week!

Friday Happy Hour: Animal Kingdom’s Dawa Bar

By AJ 17 Comments

It’s the last day of your first week back at work in the new year, and I think you deserve a drink, don’t you?

Let’s go to the Dawa Bar!

Dawa Bar

Atmosphere
The Dawa Bar is located right next to Tusker House Restaurant in Disney World’s Animal Kingdom, right in the middle of the hub-bub of Harambe village. From here you can watch the crowds run by, on their way to Kilimanjaro Safaris and Rafiki’s Planet Watch, or coming from Pangani Forest and making the turn over to Asia.

Dawa Bar

There are a hodge-podge of bar stools, all different shapes and sizes, and several [Read more…]

New Tables in Wonderland Dinners Announced

By AJ 18 Comments

Tables in Wonderland has announced four members-only dinners happening in January and February 2010. To attend the dinners, you must be either a Florida resident or an Annual Passholder at Walt Disney World, and have a valid Tables in Wonderland membership.

January
1/15/10: The Great Movie Ride Dinner at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Um…can I say COOL!? You get to have dinner inside the ride, as in reception in the Gangster Scene, plated dinner in the Western Scene, and dessert in the Land of Oz. No kidding.

$155 per person, 7:30-9:30pm. Send an email to [email protected] with your name, phone number, home address, number of people in your party, and your interest to book. Members will be notified on a first-come first-served basis.

Click for larger version:

1/20/10: The Wave’s Discovery Dinner at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
This month, the dinner features [Read more…]

My Three Favorite Desserts in Disney World

By AJ 49 Comments

You know I like to get consensus before I post a “best of” post on the Disney Food Blog, but every once in a while I have to be completely, utterly biased…and one of those times is now.

Dessert is my thing. I love it. I look forward to it at the end of every meal in Disney World. I can’t get enough of it. And I’ll order it even when I’m not hungry just to take a few bites. As a result, I’ve tried quite a few of ’em, and want to share with you my very favorites.

By the way, I’d love to hear your favorites as well. In fact, please do comment with your favorite dessert so I don’t feel quite so guilty about monopolizing this post with all of mine.

Third Favorite Dessert in Disney World: Liberty Tree Tavern’s Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake
I’ll admit this stuff looks boring. Get it out of the box, heat it up, put a bunch of sauces on it, and serve. But, friends, I gotta tell ya… it’s spectacular. Order one all for yourself. Tell your kids they can get Mickey bars outside.

Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake

Second Favorite Dessert in Disney World: ‘Ohana Bananas Foster Bread Pudding
While I miss ‘Ohana’s potatoes, and I feel the meat is often overdone, and the service has been known to be unpredictable…the dessert is always, always [Read more…]

Disney World Bakery Throw Down: Starring Rolls Cafe

By AJ 15 Comments

Truly one of my favorite grab-and-go spots in Disney World, Starring Rolls is tiny, busy, and has some of the most delicious items I’ve ever tried, including the coveted Butterfinger Cupcake! While not technically a bakery, the shop rivals any of the other contestants with its rows of fresh and unique pastries and baked goods.

Atmosphere
Located on the corner of Sunset and Hollywood Boulevards, tucked back from the street, the Starring Rolls Bakery greets you with a bustling outdoor seating area.

Outdoor Seating Area

Find your way inside the small bakery and, well, by this time I’m usually already in a queue line! Grab a plate and a tray right inside the door and take your time looking at the baked goods as you make your way to the registers.

Mickey Waits Eagerly For Your Order

The “theme” in the bakery is pretty thin, but the art deco design and flour bags on the baker’s rack would indicate that we’re somewhere in the 20’s, 30’s, and early 40’s — Hollywood’s heyday.

Decor in Starring Rolls

Once you’ve gathered your sweets, you’ll see across from the two main registers a menu with drinks, including coffee drinks and coffee syrups, liqueurs, and wines. Yep — they have some fancy bakeries here in Hollywood!

Starring Rolls Bakery Registers and Check-Out area

Starring Rolls Drink Menu

It’s in this area that you can also order sandwiches, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves…

Eats
You’ll find delectable baked goods, bagels, huge sandwiches, fudge, and more in this unassuming little bakery, and I suggest that you try a little bit of everything! It actually is quite a versatile place to find a quick bite, but if you’re going to sample those massive cupcakes, I recommend bringing a friend! Here are the photos you’ve been waiting for… [Read more…]

Hope for Wishes Dessert Party in Spring 2010

By AJ Leave a Comment

WDW Magic is reporting that while the Wishes Dessert Party at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom has ended its run, there’s hope that it will return in the Spring of this year.

To read more about the Wishes Dessert Party and to see photos and prices, see our other Wishes Dessert Party blog posts.

2010 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Dates

By AJ 16 Comments

October 1-November 14, 2010!

To get all the latest information about the 2010 Festival, including events, programming, international marketplaces, and more, check out our 2010 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival page! For specifics, click on the links below:

2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Guide and map

2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival International Marketplace Booth and Menus

2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Free and Low-Cost Seminars and Demonstrations

2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat Concerts

2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Special Events

2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Party For the Senses

Disney Dining at Home

By AJ 14 Comments

A few months ago, Erin Foster sent over a photo of some fun candy sushi she and her girls made after getting the idea from California Grill…

Candy Sushi Inspired by California Grill

This Disney-inspired treat has become one of their family favorites, and I wondered how many more of us have tried our hands at Disney dishes. After all, how many of us have tried a certain dish or food in a Disney park or resort and thought, “I wish I had the recipe for that!”

Cooking at Home, Disney-Style
As it turns out — lots of us have! I received dozens of responses via twitter, facebook, and email from readers who have had great success with creating their favorite Disney favorites at home. Here are a few that came with photos — just click on the links to get the recipes:

Erwin sent a delicious photo of some Chicken Corn Chowder from Boma simmering on the stove:

Boma Chicken Corn Chowder on the Stove

Shannon actually sent along her photo of Le Cellier’s Filet Mignon [Read more…]

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